Miniature electric lamp bulb seat and socket combination



P. KOLLSMAN July 27, 1937.

MINIATURE ELECTRIC LAMP BULB SEAT AND SOCKET COMBINATION Filed May 1, 1957 INVENT OR PHUL KULLSMHN BY 9 @Mm/Qk ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES MNIATURE ELECTRIC LAIWP BULB SEAT AND SOCKET COMBINATION Paul Kollsman, Stamford, Conn. Application May 1, 1937, Serial No. 140,166

8 Claims.

This invention relates'to the removable and easy replaceable mounting of a miniature electric light bulb in a socket readily positionable on an instrument casing for the instrument. illumination of the indicating parts of the instrument. The invention involves an inwardly presented bulb mounted as a part of a plug base for the bulb to be thrust into and through an ope ended socket. This application is a division in part and continuation of my co-pending applications Serial No. 719,115 for Indicator illumination and Serial No. 53,972 for Glass plate transmissionilluminator, which show two specific embodiments and applications of my bulb seat and socket, one additional'specific embodiment and application also being shown in this application.

v An object of the invention is to provide for the removable and replaceable mounting of a miniature incandescent electric light bulb fixed permanently to a seat to form a plug-like structure with convenience and dispatch and without inany way interfering with the operation of an instrument with which it is adapted to be associated for the purpose of illuminating the indicating parts of such instrument.

A particular object of the invention is so to mount a bulb and to provide such a socket and such a base for the mount, as to eliminate the 30 necessity of any auxiliary compartment associated with the casing of. the instrument to be illuminated. Rather; it is an object to provide a bulb of such miniature dimensions so uniquely base mounted as to permit its positioning together 35 with the greater part of its cooperative socket outside of the casing of the instrument to be illuminated and so as to present the illuminating tip of the miniature bulb in position operatively to illuminate the indicating parts of such 40 instrument.

A .further' object of the invention is to render the removal and replacement of such a' miniature bulb possible by a simple finger manipulation, preferably by an unscrewing action of a threaded plug or nipple, although it is considered that the required manipulation might even be simplified by the omission of threads and by reliance solely upon plug and socket frictional 50 engagement between the base and its socket.

The more certain maintenance of assemblage aff orded by male and female threaded'parts, however, is preferred.

. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are 65 shown in the accompanying drawing to which EElStUED the claims aredirected solely for purposes of I illustration.

In the drawing Fig. 1 shows my plug base and socket construction molded as an excrescence from the case of an instrument to be illuminated, 5 the parts being shown for the most part in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of my plug and socket combination slightly modified and applied to an adaptor designed to combine with an instrument 10 casing by clamping over its fall; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of my plug and socket combination of another slightly modified form associated with the glass front portion of the case of an instrument to be illuminated. V 15 In each of the embodiments A, A, A", is a plug light structure completing a base mounting of a miniature incandescent electric lightbulb B, C, C", C", are respective cooperative sockets for mounting the bulb bases A, A and All.

In Fig. 1 the socket C is molded as an extension I extending out from the casing 2 of an instrument to be illuminated at its dial back of the glass window 3. Into this excrescence l is formed a female threaded socket an electrical contact member 4 which is electrically connected with a current supply lead 5. An arcuate ledge 6 is also molded into the excrescence l to seat an arcuate contact 1 which is shown in the form of a circularly bent wire lying on ledge 6 from which its leg 8 extends down into connection with a second current lead 9. The leads 5 and 9 may be imbedded and held by'cement II) in a channel formed in the exterior wall of casing 2.

An open ended cylindrical channel II is provided by the socket C into and through which the bulb B projects, when in instrument illuminating position as shown by the dotted lines. This cylindrical channel is co-axial with the 4 threads but needs merely be of suitable size and shape to pass the cylindrical plug and bulb A-B. In this construction light from the filament l3 efiects illumination edgew'ise through the window 3 as fully described in one of my aforemene tioned co-pending applications.

In this combination structureof Fig. 1 the bulb B is surrounded by a cylindrical miniature sleeve I4 having an outstanding ledge IE, to this sleeve is connected one of the bulb leads I6.

A cylindrical insulating nipple ll assists in insulating and seating a cylindrical plug like metallic nipple l8 concentrically about the structure. To the closing cap portion IQ of this nipple is secured the other bulb lead 20. In all embodiments the nipple structure particularly the cap portion I0 is closed and serves as a shield against the outward emission of light. An insulating cementitious filling 2| completes the assemblage and causes the entire plug shaped base to constitute a unit except for the packing washer v22 which may be held in place frictionally and serve to complete a hermetical seal when the plug A is inserted in socket C.

In the construction of Fig. 2 the socket C comprises a cylindrical internally female threaded metallic nipple internally of which is mounted a second electrical contact sleeve I0 which is insulated from the other parts by insulating rings 'II and I2. The terminal leads I3 and I4 are connected to the metal nipple 40 and to the sleeve I0 and may extend back from an adaptor I5 in the form of a cable I6. This adaptor I5 .is shown seated upon an instrument casing II. In the plug structure of Fig. 2 the contact sleeve I4 alone is employed, the ledge I5 being omitted but is substituted by a sealing or packing washer I50. In other respects the structure corresponds to that of Fig. 1.

-In Fig. 3 instead of seating the metal nipple a suitable perforation in the glasswindow part of an instrument 402. In this construction the contact sleeve I00 is shown provided with resilient struck out fingers IN. The sleeve I00 is similarly insulated from the metal socket part I00 in accordance with the showing of Fig. 2. This. construction is that illustrated and described in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 719,115. In this the extreme tip of bulb B has an opaque shield b, formed in any suitable way as by painting the tip of the bulb.

,In all the figures or the drawing the mounting panel I00 is shown mounting the instruments in its rear as is customary, with each instrument silorgwing through suitable cut-outs I 0i, I02, and

Although I have shown 3 modifications of my plug base and socket, including three appllq cations of the same two instruments to be illuminated, I desire it to be understood that other ing 'a hollow nipple portion providing a bulb seat and a closed finger operable gripper portion; said nipple portion having external combined socketing and electrical contacting male threaded metallic means; a miniature electric lamp bulb of smaller size than said bulb seat and having terminal leads; a second metallic contact of arcuate iorm embracing said bulb beyond said nipple portion; connections for said leads to said threaded metallic means and said second contact; and insulating means securing the terminal portion "of said bulb in said seat with the light emitting portion exposed coaxially therewith and securing said second contact coaxially with said nipple portion and about said bulb.

2. The construction as in claim 1 with a light shield for the tip of the bulb.

3. In combination, a plug base member-having a hollow nipple portion providing a bulbv seat and a closed finger operable gripper portion: said nipple portion having external combined socketing and electrical contact male threaded metallic means; a miniature electric lamp bulb of smaller size than said bulb seat and having terminal leads; a second metallic contact of cylindrical form embracing said bulb beyond said nipple portion; connections for said-leads to said threaded metallic means and said second contact; insulating means securing the terminal portion of said bulb in said seat with the light emitting portion exposed coaxially therewith and securing said second contact coaxially with said nipple portion and about said bulb; a socket open at both ends having a female threaded metal mount complementary to said nipple portion and constituting a first socket contact; and a second socket contact insulated from said first contact and cooperative with said second contact of said plug.

4. In combination, in an instrument illuminating device, a lamp, a base, and a socket, the said lamp comprising a. closed cylindrical bulb, a filament therein, and conductive leads to said filament passing through the material of said bulb, the said base comprising a cylindrical contact member adjacent said cylindrical bulb having electrical connection with one of said leads, and an annular supporting member, and an insulating member holding the several members in substantially concentric relationship; the said socket comprising members adapted to cooperate with the concentric members of said base for the support thereof and electrical connection thereto.

5. In combination, in an instrument illuminating device, a lamp, a base, and a socket, the said lamp'comprising a closed cylindrical bulb, a filament therein, and conductive leads to said filament passing through the material of said bulb, the said basecomprising a conductive sleeve member around said cylindrical bulb having electrical contact with one of said leads, a .second metallic member of substantially annular form having a connection to the other of said leads,

a plastic member holding the several members in substantially concentric relationship; the said socket comprising in combination a conductive member'adapted to cooperate with thesaid second metallic member, an insulating exterior portion for said socket, an electrical supply connection to said conductive member, a second conductive member and electrical connection thereto adapted to cooperate with said sleeve member, and a light channel cooperating with said filament adjacent said socket.

6. In combination, in an instrument illuminating device, a lamp, a base, and a socket, the said lamp comprising a closed cylindrical bulb, a filament. therein, and conductive leads to said filament passing through the material of said bulb, the said base comprising aconductive sleeve member around said cylindrical bulb havinz electrical contact with one 01' said leads, and a metallic holder member having an annular portion and a connection-to the other of said leads, an annular insulating ring surrounding said con-. ducting sleeve for the insulating separation thereof from other members of said base, a plastic member holding the several members in substantially concentric relationship, the said socket comprising in' combination a. cylindrical member adapted to cooperate with the said holder member, a second conductive member adapted to cooperate with said sleeve member. an insulating tionatberetaandalightchannelcooperaung 2,088,559 with said filament adjacent said insulating support. a

7. In combination, in an instrument illuminating device a socket member adapted to be attached to an instrument to be illuminated, and a lamp and base assemblage adapted to be insorted therein, comprising a grouping of oo-axial members, including a bulb having a filament adjacent one end thereof, a conductive cylindrical sleeve member therearound, an annular-insulating member around said sleeve, a threaded cylindrical member surrounding said sleeve and a plastic material adapted to attach said sleeve and said threaded member to said bulb, said combination being adapted to enter said socket and to carry said lamp through said socket to a position adjacent an object to be illuminated.

8. In combination, a tubular bulb member having a filament and leadwires. therein, a cylindrical conductive sleeve member around said bulb and connected to one of said lead wires, an annular insulating member around said sleeve, a

holder member around said sleeve, and attached thereto by cement and connected to the other of said lead wires, having an external thread thereon and a knurled finger grip portion, a socket cooperating therewith comprising an internal threaded conductive portion, an insulating materlal support therefor, a conductive ring mem-- her also attached to said insulating support and adapted to cooperate with said sleeve member surrounding said bulb, electrical connection to said ring member and said socket conductive portion and a light outlet channel. in said insulating socket support member for the emission of light from said filament to an object to be illuminated.

PAUL KOLLSMAN'. 

